In June of 1997, Michael Jordan delivered one of his most iconic performances when he dropped 38 points on the Utah Jazz in Game 5 of the NBA Finals while battling an intense fever and flu-like symptoms. Now the sneakers he wore that Game, which were autographed following the victory, are being auctioned off.

A former Utah Jazz ball boy was the recipient of the shoes, and had Jordan sign them. He had enough foresight to have a photo taken of MJ putting his signature on the kicks, and then locked them away in a safety deposit box. Wanting to see how much they could get in an auction, he contacted Grey Flannel Auctions.

Bidding for the sneakers will open November 18th, and will be included with other NBA memorabilia. Grey Flannel believe they will be one of the highest priced items in the auction.

Russek and Grey Flannel are betting that prospective bidders will care quite a bit, which is why they pursued the shoes for consignment and inclusion in their Dec. 11 holiday auction catalog. Bidding will open on Nov. 18, if you're a deep-pocketed Jordan lover who'd like to lock this in on your calendar; the autographed shoes will be "accompanied by a letter from the ball boy as well as an incredible photo of Jordan signing these and handing them over post Game," according to Russek.

"He wants someone else to have them who can display them better, as they've sat in a safety deposit box for the last 15-plus years," Russek said. "Mainly, he wants Jordan fans to hear the story and know they are out there and how they were obtained." [...]

"We do not publish estimates, but I expect these to be one of the highest priced items in the sale," Russek said.